| Indian
Navy Orders Three Vikrant Carriers
By AMI INTERNATIONAL
Indian press reports of 11 April 2001 announced that the Indian Cabinet
Committee on Security (CSS) approved the awarding of a construction contact
to Cochin Shipyard for the construction of three Vikrant-class aircraft
carriers, also known as air defense ships (ADSs). Although the exact
contract price for the three vessels was not announced, the Indian government
authorized expenditures in 1999 of approximately $475 million per vessel.
The announcement also indicated that the carrier--based on a French
design--will displace more than 30,000 tons. This follows the latest
artist's rendition of a 37,500-ton aircraft carrier that can operate
over 30 aircraft including short takeoff but arrested recovery (STOBAR)
aircraft, which includes such types as the Hindustan Light Combat Aircraft
(LCA), the French Rafael M, and the Russian MiG-29.
Although there is no doubt that India will begin to build its own aircraft
carriers, the number of vessels and commissioning dates remain in question.
AMI originally estimated that the Indian Navy would build only two new-construction
carriers under this program, with the third one being a Kiev-class carrier
from Russia.
Anticipated funding for the vessels must also be seriously questioned
because of the planned unit price of only $475 million. A new vessel
of this size will probably cost in the neighborhood of around $1.3 billion
per unit. If this program is as underfunded as thought, it will be difficult
at best to complete the first aircraft carrier on the timeline envisioned
(2008). AMI believes that the first unit will probably not be commissioned
until around 2012, approximately four years later than planned, and this
assumes that the Indian Navy will receive the additional funding required
to complete the first unit.
The follow-on units will be much more difficult to fund and build on
schedule. However, AMI believes that a carrier fleet is extremely important
to the Indian government and Indian Navy, and that at least a second
unit will also be built, although likely not delivered until around 2018.
A third new carrier could be built, but realistic funding and construction
dates are too far into the future to determine.
As an interim measure, the Indian Navy probably will continue to operate
the Viraat until the first new carrier is commissioned. The Indian Navy
may still procure the Russian Kiev-class carrier Admiral Gorshkov and/or
the HMS Invincible--if an arrangement can be made with the Royal Navy
when it decommissions that ship, which may occur as early as 2006. So
a three-carrier fleet could be in place within the next five years. This
approach would give the Indian Navy sufficient time to build, test, commission,
and pay for the new class of air defense ships.
Greece Orders One More Dutch Frigate
The Greek Ministry of Defense has signed a $35.3 million contract with
the Dutch government for the purchase of one Kortenaer-class frigate;
the ninth frigate to be procured by the Hellenic Navy. It is expected
to be delivered on 24 October 2003. Of the 10 Kortenaer-class ships originally
built for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNlN), seven have been transferred
to the Hellenic Navy and two to the United Arab Emirates Navy. The RNlN
is expected to retain its last unit (Bloys Van Treslong) for service
in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean.
The Hellenic Navy will operate its Kortenaer-class ships as the mainstay
of its surface fleet for the better part of the next two decades, since
the four Kimon-class destroyers are expected to be retired in the near
future. The first new frigate (Corvette Program) will not enter service
until around 2008, and the first of a new destroyer class (Anti-Air Warfare
Destroyer Program) will not enter service until around 2018.
Canada Defrosts
ALSC Design Studies
Concept design studies for Canada's Afloat Logistics and Sealift Capability
(ALSC) program are expected to recommence this summer. The Canadian Navy
is working on the operational requirements for the vessel and is expected
to raise the maximum speed requirement of the ship from 21 knots to 25.
Although the Canadian government has been tightening its military procurement
budgets over the past several years, the ALSC program appears to be near
schedule and is proceeding through Phase 2 (from 2002 to 2005). Phase
3 (20062015) is the detailed design and construction phase, which
may be delayed past the 20062015 time frame or actually canceled--even
though the program is now entering the design studies--since it appears
that the Canadian Navy has been investigating several alternatives to
ALSC.
The Canadian Navy apparently is considering combining the requirements
for a military transport vessel with the capability of underway replenishment
in order to replace the two Protecteur-class replenishment ships at the
same time with one new vessel type. Additionally, the Canadian Navy is
apparently investigating the possibility of canceling the ALSC program
in favor of a long-term lease option.
Even though the program continues to move forward, the critical time
frame will be when Phase 3 begins, which is scheduled for 2006, when
the Canadian Parliament and the Canadian Navy face a major decision on
whether to fund the majority of the $1.27 billion required to build the
fleet of four vessels.
First Steel Cut for U.K. Type 45 Destroyer
BAE Systems has cut steel for the first unit of the Daring-class (Type
45) destroyers at its Govan Shipyard. The first six units of the class
have already been contracted. BAE Systems received two awards worth $1.4
billion (weapons and sensors not included) for the first two batches:
December 2001 for units 1-3 and February 2002 for units 4-6. The first-of-class,
HMS Daring, is expected to be commissioned by 2008 and will be followed
by five additional units through 2011.
The initial Type 45 program included 12 destroyers. With only the first
six contracted for, there has been considerable speculation that not
all 12 ships will be built. Current funding estimates have determined
that the program is approximately $1 billion short of the funding required
to complete the program at 12 units (at a unit cost of $933 million).
If units seven through 12 are to be built, construction should begin
in 2006 and would likely show some different equipment: they may include
land-attack and theater ballistic-missile-defense capabilities.*
AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash., is an international consulting
and naval intelligence services company located on the Web at amiinter.com. |
